Richard Corsetti knows his name is unfamiliar to residents of Whitehall, but he also wants to them to know that he has the skills and desire to help preserve the Whitehall Armory and turn it into an asset for the town and the region.

“This is not my hometown,” said Corsetti, who grew up on Long Island, worked in Las Vegas for 20 years and now lives in Vermont. “I hate to be seen as the guy who is trying to come in and fix things.

“But I know I can help. We can stimulate commerce and preserve the integrity of the building. This is a way to for the armory to become a building for the town.”

Corsetti, who said he worked for 20 years in Las Vegas, including time as the executive food and beverage director for casino owner Steve Wynn, has proposed that a non-profit organization be formed to create a community cultural center as part of a multi-use project for the armory building.

The armory has been closed by the state and has been vacant for more than a year. It is available to the town for purchase for $1. Corsetti said he was contacted by Town Supervisor Richard “Geezer” Gordon regarding the armory. Gordon’s family had previously owned the Liberty building.

Corsetti said he moved to Vermont in 2007 to retire, but he has recently made several investments in Whitehall. He will be the general manager for owner Erin Perkins in a restaurant called “Smokin’ On The Water,” which will open later this month in the Whitehall Times building. He and Perkins have also purchased the Liberty building and he plans to open a brew pub there.

Corsetti said he understands that some residents may wonder about someone who has been in business in town for less than a year making such a proposal and said he would be careful to make sure there is good communication regarding the project.